Rosso fell to a slender 1-0 defeat in their season opener against newly promoted Worsbrough Bridge on Saturday afternoon.

In what was a balanced opening period, the first chance of the game presented itself early doors as Rossington applied the pressure in the middle third resulting in striker Ross Hannah picking up a loose ball and driving into the box, but he was forced wide by the covering defender and could only find the keeper’s grasp.

Greg Young and Ben Hunter’s side continued to probe in the early exchanges with the set-piece delivery of Mason Warren proving a nuisance for the Briggers and Oli Nowak also threatening the goal.

From the half hour mark, last season’s NCEL Division One play-off winners grew into the game and caused Tom Wallace to be called into action to deny Freddie Russell’s 25-yard free-kick, before Harry Mitchell was forced into desperate measures on the goal line to head clear from a corner.

Despite Worsbrough asserting themselves in the latter stages of the half, Myron Gibbons could have sent his side into the break a goal to the good when his shot from just inside the penalty area dragged just inches wide of the post.

Half-time saw the introduction of summer signing Scott Ruthven for Reece Fielding, signalling the attacking intent from the dugout, and his impact was clear from the off, providing a focal point at the top of the pitch.

On 55 minutes the forward line combined excellently, starting with Ruthven’s deft lay-off to Gibbons whose backheel found Hannah inside the box, but he himself could only find the side netting.

Not long after, the deadlock was broken by Keelan Grist for the Barnsley side, making a strong connection with his left boot from a long-throw that was hurled in from the near side, leaving Wallace with no chance.

Such was the nature of the game, it took The Briggers until 68 minutes to fashion their first real chance from open play when the ball broke to Jake Squires who kept Wallace honest with a powerful attempt on the edge of the box.

The game then petered out from there with Rosso unable to breach Worsbrough’s well-drilled defensive unit, with the task made all the harder by the forced departures of goal threats, Gibbons and Ruthven.

Rosso XI: Wallace (GK), Phillipson, Green, Hunt, Fielding (C) (45’ Ruthven (72’ Arbouin)), Holloway, Mitchell, Warren, Gibbons (61’ Grayson), Hannah (68’ Micklethwaite), Nowak.

Unused: Hunter.

Article by Josh Robinson.